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Board Meeting | March 13 -14, 2024

Event Details

A meeting of the CWCB will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 commencing at 9:00 AM and continuing through Thursday, March 14, 2024. The meeting will be held at the CSU Spur Hydro building 4777 National Western Dr, Denver 80216 and virtually on Zoom. Thursday's meeting will be entirely virtual due to the incoming storm.

The CWCB posts notice 30 days in advance of each regularly scheduled meeting. Notices for special meetings are posted on the website typically within five business days and not less than 24 hours of such a meeting. Notices of regular and special meetings may also be received by email. To receive notices by email please visit our Notification Portal.

Although dates and times are indicated in this notice and in the following agenda, the CWCB may address and take action on noticed items in any order. Any item scheduled for the regular agenda may be discussed in executive session if legal questions arise as authorized under § 24-6-402, C.R.S.  Any known changes to the agenda will be announced at the beginning of the meeting. This notice, any late notice(s) of additional items, and briefing memos prepared for the CWCB will be on our website.

The CWCB’s meetings are made available through live audio/video streaming on YouTube, although Board workshops are not. To listen to the proceedings, find links to either day's meeting on the right sidebar.

The CWCB encourages citizens to express their views and provide feedback to the Board on the agenda items. This can be done by filling out this form, by sending a letter to a Board member or to the Chair of the Board, or by attending the meeting. by sending a letter to a Board member or to the Chair of the Board, or by attending the meeting. If you want to make a public comment during the meeting you must fill out a comment sheet prior to the meeting date and email it to the Board Coordinator. The Board will appreciate hearing your views when it reaches that agenda item. If you have any questions, need special accommodations as a result of a disability, or require further information on any CWCB activity, please contact Viola Bralish at 303-866-3441, ext. 3206. All programs, services, and activities of the CWCB are operated in compliance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

CWCB Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance - 9:00-9:02

  1.  a. Election of New Vice Chair - 9:02-9:05
    b. Review and Approve Agenda
     
  2. Review and Approve January 29 & 30, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes - 9:05-9:08
     
  3. Approve and/or Remove Consent Agenda Items - 9:08-9:15

2024 CWCB Board Meeting Dates & Potential Locations

  1. May 15 & 16 – Colorado Basin
  2. July 17 & 18 - North Platte Basin
  3. September 18 & 19 – Rio Grande Basin
  4. November 20 & 21 – Denver Metro Area

 

  1. Directors’ Reports - 9:15-10:15
    1. DNR Executive Director/IBCC Director
    2. CWCB Director
    3. IBCC Director
    4. Agriculture Commissioner
    5. State Engineer 
    6. Division of Parks and Wildlife Director 
    7. Water Resource and Power Development Authority
       

10:15-10:30    Morning Break

  1. Financial Matters - Construction Fund and Severance Tax Perpetual Base Fund - 10:30-10:40
          Finance Section
    1. Financial Projections and Cash Management Report
       
  2. Water Project Loans - 10:40-10:50
        Finance Section
    a. Trinchera Groundwater Management Subdistrict – Water Rights Purchase
     
  3. CWCB Policy #12  and #14 – Prioritization of Loan and Non-Reimbursable Investment Project Applications- 10:50-11:20
       Finance Section
     

11:20-12:20   LUNCH

  1. Attorney General’s Report, Legal Briefing, and Executive Session - 12:20-12:25
     
  2. Executive Session - 12:25-1:00
    a. Perkins County Canal
     
  3. Report from Executive Session - 1:00-1:05
     
  4. Water Supply Reserve Fund Applications March 2024 - 1:05-1:20
      Water Supply Planning Section
    1. Basin – North Platte
      Applicant – Spicer Ranches
      Name of Water Activity – Mexican Reservoir Enlargement – Phase 2
    2. Basin – South Platte
      Applicant – City of Idaho Springs
      Name of Water Activity – Mattie Dam Rehabilitation
    3. Basin – South Platte
      Applicant – Ducks Unlimited
      Name of Water Activity – Tamarack State Wildlife Area: Well 17
    4. Basin – Southwest
      Applicant – Trout Unlimited 145 – Dolores River Anglers
      Name of Water Activity – Dolores River Anglers Lower West Fork Restoration
       
  5. Instream Flow Appropriations - 1:20-1:40
    Stream and Lake Protection Section
    1. Public Notice of 2025 Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Recommendations
    2. Public Comment on 2024 Instream Flow and Natural Level Appropriations in Water Divisions 1, 2, 4, and 6
       
  6.  Request for Authorization to Proceed to Trial in Stipulated Opposition Case - 1:40-1:50
    Stream and Lake Protection Section
    1. Case No. 21CW3044 (Water Division 2): Application of Triview Metropolitan District 
       
  7. Instream Flow Acquisitions  - 1:50-2:20
    Stream and Lake Protection Section
    1. Implementation of Renewable Temporary Lease of Stagecoach Reservoir Water for Instream Flow Use on the Upper Yampa River, Water Division 6

Afternoon Break 2:20-2:35
 

  1. Water Plan Grants - 2:35-4:00
    Administration and Operations Section
    1. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Colorado Open Lands
      Project – Charting a New Course for Water Smart Land Conservation in the South Platte River Basin
    2. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Colorado State University
      Project – South Platte River Basin Salinity Study
    3. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Mormon Mesa Ditch
      Project – Mormon Mesa Ditch Improvement Project
    4. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Trout Unlimited
      Project – Intermountain West Alternative Forages Project – Phase II
    5. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Trout Unlimited Montrose
      Project – Middle Colorado AG Collaborative
    6. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Western Slope Conservation Center
      Project – North Fork Consolidated Diversion Improvements
    7. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Western Water Partnerships
      Project – Las Animas Water Sharing Program
    8. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Adams County
      Project – Master Water Management Plan
    9. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Mile High Flood District
      Project – Denver One Water Plan Implementation Phase 2
    10. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Multiplier
      Project – Advancing Water Efficiency Solutions in Colorado Communities – Phase 2
    11. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Rocky Mountain Section American Water Works Association
      Project – Statewide Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Water Efficiency Program
    12. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Sonoran Institute
      Project – Colorado Growing Water Smart
    13. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – University of Colorado Boulder
      Project – Effects of Landscape Transformations on Urban Heat and Water Quality
    14. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Western Resource Advocates
      Project – Advancing Water Wise Landscaper Certification
    15. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Westminster, City of
      Project – Westminster City Hall Landscape Transformation
    16. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Colorado State University
      Project – Colorado Water Fellows Program: Water Workforce Development through Education, Training, and Internships
    17. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Groundwork Denver
      Project – Advancing Public Knowledge Via Rain Barrel Distribution
    18. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Montezuma Land Conservancy
      Project – Place-Based Water Education in SW Colorado
    19. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Roaring Fork Conservancy
      Project – Watershed PenPal Program
    20. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Central Colorado Water Conservancy District
      Project – Sweet Valley Reservoir Complex Water Storage Project
    21. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Consolidated Mutual Water Company
      Project – Welton Reservoir Expansion
    22. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Donala Water and Sanitation District
      Project – Donala Water and Sanitation District Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Study
    23. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Gunnison, City of
      Project – City of Gunnison Project 1: Raw Water and Infiltration Gallery Infrastructure Improvements
    24. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – North Poudre Irrigation Company
      Project – Park Creek Reservoir Expansion
    25. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Colorado Rio Grande Restoration Foundation
      Project – Conejos River Restoration Phase II
    26. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Colorado Trout Unlimited
      Project – South Boulder Creek – Watershed Restoration Phase III
    27. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Learning By Doing, Inc
      Project – Implementation of Grand County’s Stream Management Plan
    28. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
      Project – Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Collaborative (KVRC) Project Monitoring
    29. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Purgatoire Watershed Partnership
      Project – Purgatoire River Fish & Boat Passage Project
    30. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – River Network
      Project – Capacity & Tech Assistance for Watershed Groups
    31. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – River Network
      Project – West Plum Creek Stream Management Plan, Phase II
    32. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – RiversEdge West
      Project – Dolores River Riparian Habitat Restoration
    33. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – The Friends of the Yampa
      Project – Yampa River Scorecard Project and Yampa River Stewardship Program
    34. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Trout Unlimited, Montrose
      Project – Middle Colorado Agriculture Collaborative
       

Public Comment - 4:00-4:10

    RECESS - 4:10

(Virtual Only) Thursday, March 14, 2024

  1. Basin Directors’ Reports - 9:00 – 9:45
    1. South Platte River Basin Director’s Report
    2. Arkansas River Basin Director’s Report
    3. City and County of Denver Director’s Report
    4. Rio Grande River Basin Director’s Report
    5. Yampa-White River Basin Director’s Report
    6. Colorado River (Mainstem) Basin Director’s Report
    7. San Juan/San Miguel-Dolores River Basin Director’s Report
    8. Gunnison River Basin Director’s Report
    9. North Platte River Basin Director’s Report

9:45-10:00 Morning Break

10:00-10:45 CSU Spur Building Tour - Canceled due to weather
 

  1. System Conservation Pilot Program Update - 10:45-11:00
    Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section
     
  2. Colorado River Updates - 11:00-11:30
    Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section

11:30-12:30 LUNCH

  1. Special Release of the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program Update - 12:30-12:50
    Watershed and Flood Protection Section
     
  2. Spring Forecast - 12:50-1:10
    Water Supply Planning & Watershed and Flood Protection Sections 
     
  3. Operational Planning Update - 1:10-1:30
    Anna Mauss
     

1:30   ADJOURN

CWCB Consent Agenda March 13-14, 2024

Matters may be placed on the Consent Agenda when the recommended action follows established policy or precedent, there has been a negotiated settlement, or the matter is uncontested and non-controversial. Staff provides memos to CWCB members explaining the matters on the Consent Agenda. Matters on the Consent Agenda are noticed for hearing in the same manner as other agenda items. If a member of the CWCB requests further consideration of an item on the Consent Agenda, the item will be withdrawn from the Consent Agenda and discussed during the meeting or at the next meeting, with action taken after discussion of the item. If a member of the CWCB requests further consideration of an item on the Consent Agenda that pertains to a pending or imminent court action, the matter will be withdrawn from the Consent Agenda and may be discussed during executive session of the same meeting, and any action on that item will be taken in public session. The Consent Agenda may be voted on without reading or discussing individual items. Any CWCB member may request clarification about any matter on the Consent Agenda. 

  1. Statements of Opposition
    Stream & Lake Protection Section
    Staff recommends the Board ratify CWCB’s filing of the following Statements of Opposition:
    a. Case No. 23CW3170 (Water Division 1): Application of Girl Scouts of Colorado
    b. Case No. 23CW3176 (Water Division 1): Application of Eldora Enterprises LLC
    c. Case No. 23CW3054 (Water Division 2): Application of Dennis G. Britten and Judy C. Britten
    d. Case No. 23CW3182 (Water Division 5): Application of Everist Land Holdings, LLC
    e. Case No. 23CW3205 (Water Division 5): Application of Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority
    f. Case No. 23CW3209 (Water Division 5): Application of The Ranches at Devil's Thumb, Inc. (The Grand County Ranches, LLC )
    g. Case No. 23CW3218 (Water Division 5): Application of Sun River Run Ranch RV, LLC and Town of Granby
    h. Case No. 23CW0015 (Water Division 6): Application of Lower Pasture LLC
    i. Case No. 23CW3054 (Water Division 7): Application of Bonanza Boy, LLC
     
  2. Water Supply Reserve Fund Grants
    Water Supply Planning Section
    1. Basin – Metro
      Applicant – Consolidated Water Company
      Name of Water Activity – Lena Gulch Water Quality Monitoring Program
    2. Basin – North Platte
      Applicant – Prairie Gem Livestock
      Name of Water Activity – Hunter Reservoir – Phase 2
    3. Basin – Metro & South Platte
      Applicant – Godfrey Ditch Company
      Name of Water Activity – Godfrey Ditch Company Flume Replacement
    4. Basin – South Platte
      Applicant – North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association 
      Name of Water Activity – Region 2 - Nonpoint Source EPA 9 - Element Watershed Plan
    5. Basin – South Platte 
      Applicant – St Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District 
      Name of Water Activity – 2024 Northern Front Range Airborne Snow Observation Flights
    6. Basin – South Platte 
      Applicant – North 40 Technologies, LLC
      Name of Water Activity – Automated Gated Pipe Control System Field Trial
    7. Basin – South Platte 
      Applicant – Water Supply & Storage Company 
      Name of Water Activity – Larimer County Canal Delivery Headgate Automation Project
       
  3. Clerical Update and Clarification on Technical Assistance and Local Capacity Grant Guidelines
    Administration and Operations Section
     
  4. Water Plan Grants
    Administration and Operations Section
    1. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Colorado State University
      Project – Development of a Market for a Drought Tolerant Fresh Vegetable
    2. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Farmers Independent Ditch Company
      Project – Farmers Independent Ditch Lining Project Feasibility Study
    3. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Rio Grande Conservation District
      Project – Student-Led San Luis Valley Drought Resiliency Crop Trials
    4. Category – Agriculture
      Applicant – Thompson Glen Ditch
      Project – Thompson Glen Ditch Improvement Project
    5. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Blue River Valley Ranch Lakes Association
      Project – Blue River Valley Ranch Lakes Association Water Meter Installation
    6. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Colorado Springs Utilities
      Project – Landscape Industry Education Plan for Water Conservation
    7. Category – Conservation & Land Use
      Applicant – Deutsch Domestic Water Company, Inc
      Project – DDWC Conservation Measures & Renewable Energy Improvements
    8. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Blue Elements
      Project – AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards
    9. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Conservation Investment Germinator
      Project – Habitat Replacement Bank for the Colorado River Salinity Control Program
    10. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Drylands Agroecology Research
      Project – Agroecology Incubator Program
    11. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Environmental Learning for Kids
      Project – ELK Outdoor and Water Education Programs
    12. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Grand County Water Information Network
      Project – Upper Colorado River Interactive Data Platform
    13. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – Roaring Fork Conservancy
      Project – Impact Reporting on Roaring Fork Conservancy’s Policy and Science Projects
    14. Category – Engagement & Innovation
      Applicant – South Metro Water Supply Authority
      Project – XBAT Pilot Study
    15. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Colorado Springs Utilities
      Project – El Paso County Regional Indirect Potable Reuse Project
    16. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Dixon Canyon Ditch and Reservoir Company
      Project – Irrigation Supply Improvements Project 
    17. Category – Water Storage & Supply
      Applicant – Julesburg Irrigation District
      Project – Julesburg Reservoir Enlargement Feasibility Study
    18. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited
      Project – South Arkansas River Restoration Concept Design
    19. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Colorado Open Lands
      Project – Chaffee County Wetland Restoration Project Development
    20. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Groundwork Denver
      Project – Riparian Restoration and Monitoring in Lower Bear Creek
    21. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Mile High Flood District
      Project – South Platte River at Reynolds Landing
    22. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
      Project – Poudre Watershed Source Water Protection Planning
    23. Category – Watershed Health & Recreation
      Applicant – Yampa Valley Stream Improvement Charitable Trust
      Project – Yampa River Post – Construction Monitoring Pilot Study
       
  5. Prequalification of Water Plan Loan 
    Finance Section
    1. High Line Canal Company - High Line Canal Diversion Rehabilitation
  6. Changes to Existing Loan - Finance Section

    a. Tunnel Water Company - West Half Laramie-Poudre Tunnel Rehabilitation

Related Links

Printable Agenda

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The CWCB posts notice 30 days in advance of each regularly scheduled meeting. Notices for special meetings are posted on the website typically within five business days and not less than 24 hours of such a meeting. Notices of regular and special meetings may also be received by email.

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Listen to this meeting live

The CWCB’s meetings are made available through live audio streaming on YouTube, although Board workshops are not. To watch and listen to the proceedings, click on the links below (available the day of the meeting):

Wednesday, March 13

Thursday, March 14

Share feedback with the board

The CWCB encourages citizens to express their views and provide feedback to the Board on the agenda items. This can be done by sending a Public Comment Request form to Viola.Bralish@state.co.us, or by sending a letter to a Board member or to the Chair of the Board. The Board will appreciate hearing your views when it reaches that agenda item.

Need anything else?

If you have any questions, need special accommodations as a result of a disability, or require further information on any CWCB activity, please contact Viola Bralish at 303-866-3441, ext. 3206. All programs, services, and activities of the CWCB are operated in compliance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).